H.—3l.

From a detailed examination of the above it is obvious that while definite improvement has been made in regard to the method of physical examinations there remains much to be done:— (1) The standard of physical examination for applicants in some hospitals is too lenient. (2) Much more can be done in regard to tuberculosis skin tests. (3) Though most hospitals have some record of weights of pupil nurses regularly kept quite a number do not yet carry out an annual physical examination. (4) The incidence of influenza and septic minor conditions such as boils, sores, &c., should give grave reason for consideration as to the need for better isolation of early cases. (5) Twenty-four cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and pleurisy out of a total of 2,000 nurses is a heavy incidence rate and should make for closer investigation of nursing technique. Apart from better physical medical examinations other factors bearing on the well-being of nursing staffs which need thought are— (1) Excessive terms of night duty. Terms of two or three months in the winter for instance mean that these nurses see little sunlight during that period. (2) Better supervision of the feeding of nurses: In the majority of hospitals the food is good and well cooked, and because nurses invariably put on weight authorities are satisfied, but the question to be asked is not " whether the nurse is receiving her caloric requirement" but rather "is she receiving a properly balanced meal with correct food requirements." It is questionable whether dinner should not be a compulsory meal unless special permission is given for exemption. In some hospitals catering is done allowing for 25 per cent, to 30 per cent, of the staff being absent. As there was quite a large group of nurses in 1935 (451 pupil nurses and 81 registered nurses) receiving some form of medical treatment while on duty, it can easily be seen that this whole question is one of grave economic importance to the controlling authorities. It would appear that the time has arrived when the conditions governing physical examinations should be laid down by regulation. Nursing Technique. For the fourth year running the system of investigation of nursing technique by means of questionnaires has been again followed. This year the subjects chosen were— (1) The Management of a Venereal Disease Clinic. (2) The Nursing of Skin Diseases. (3) The Technique of Sterilization in an Operating Theatre. The replies showed the need for very definite principles to be laid down in connection with certain aspects of each question dealt with, but owing to various difficulties it was decided to carry out further investigations before publication. Scholarships. Miss E. Kaa, who was awarded a Carnegie Scholarship to enable her to follow a special course of study in Home Science, completed her course last October and has since been loaned to the Education Department for one term to carry out health propaganda in Native Schools in the North Auckland District. At the termination of this engagement it is hoped to use her services in a somewhat similar manner in connection with the District Nurses health work. Miss E. Hughes of Fiji, who was awarded a Rockefeller Scholarship to take a post graduate course in hospital administration and teaching of nursing has returned to Fiji, and is Assistant Matron on the staff of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva, where her duties include assisting with the teaching of the pupil nurses, both European and Native. The New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association, together with the New Zealand Red Cross Society, raised a Florence Nightingale Memorial Scholarship of £250 towards sending a nurse to take this post graduate course at Bedford College, London. This amount was subsidized from the post graduate funds and by the Government to the extent of a further £250 to cover the cost of travelling and exchange on the condition that the candidate should be chosen by the Public Service Commissioner and employed by the Health Department on her return to New Zealand. Miss E. R. Bridges, the Assistant Matron of Invercargill Hospital, was chosen. She, in addition to being a registered nurse and midwife, also holds the New Zealand Post Graduate Diploma and the Plunket certificate. She took up residence last August at 15 Manchester Square—the International Hostel attached to this course—and reports received concerning her w T ork in England are very satisfactory. Overseas Exchange. The system of overseas exchange of nursing sisters has now been firmly established. Two Sisters from New Zealand have exchanged with Sisters from the Melbourne Women's

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